quote: FX’s critically acclaimed new drama series The Americans got off to a strong start Wednesday night, drawing a combined 4.7 million Total Viewers and 2.54 million Adults 18-49 for its first-run episode and encore telecasts.

The series premiere telecast, which ran from 10:00-11:38 PM, delivered 3.22 million Total Viewers and 1.57 million Adults 18-49, which outperformed the premiere of American Horror Story in Total Viewers (3.18 million), and Sons Of Anarchy in Adults 18-49 (1.55 million). The first encore telecast of The Americans at 11:38 PM delivered 1.01 million Total Viewers and 643,000 Adults 18-49, and the final encore at 1:14 AM posted 470,000 Total Viewers and 319,000 Adults 18-49. The Americans topped all broadcast networks in the 10 PM time period in delivery of Men 18-34 (407,000).

“We’re very happy with premiere ratings for The Americans and, just as importantly, we’re proud of the widespread critical acclaim the show has received,” said John Landgraf, President and General Manager, FX. “We have no doubt that when we get the Live+7 time-shifted ratings from last night, The Americans will rank among the best series debuts ever on FX. We’re grateful to Executive Producers Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields, Graham Yost, and to our outstanding cast led by Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich, as well as the entire team behind this great show.”

Minor nitpick: "Happy Days" syndrome, eighties music in the background might be from 1980 or 1989, regardless of when the scene is taking place. News report on Iran hostage crisis places it around 1981, yet there's mid eighties music playing.

FBI cast of relative unknowns except for one household name. Why is he there? Obviously the plot runs through him somehow. Logical conclusion: double agent.

ETA: Another nitpick. Husband and wife both show mad martial art skills. I don't care how good your initial instruction is, that shite is perishable unless you keep up your training. Do they practice on each other? How do they explain it to their kids?

If there are really cold war sleeper agents out there, I wish some of them would come forward. They'd have a hell of a story to tell.